[Flashpoint]

Tough call.

It seems to me that as a parent you want your child to get equal ice time regardless of what the team situation is. Which is fine if that is how the league is set up to be.

But my sense is that the A league is supposed to be a competitive league. So like any competitive league the primary goal is to win. And if the coach doesn't win, he will be replaced. So his job is to ice a competitive team, and balance that with the fact the kids are only 10, and that winning (while the most important thing) isn't the ONLY thing.

If you want your son to be guaranteed ice time, then I suppose you could move him to B, where I imagine competition is secondary to just playing the game.

On the other hand, not every player gets to be a star - despite what their parents want. So if you really want to help your son's growth, you wouldn't be too far off base to just take a step back and let the situation play itself out. If he earns the #1 job, then great. If he doesn't, he is probably going to learn some other important lessons. Being a good teammate is more than just being a star player. That you can help the team even if you aren't always on the ice, and that rewards can be earned by hard work when you do get a chance to play. From what you have said, it doesn't sound to me like the coach is out to "get" your boy, so I don't think you'll see him riding the pine for the rest of the season or anything.

As a parent, the tough part for you is separating your role as Dad, and your role as player "agent". I am sure at least some of your stress is transferring to your boy. Which probably makes it hard on him to focus on just the game. As a Dad, you should help him with encouragement, practice, good off ice habits etc. As his agent, it seems to me (and this is just one man's opinion), that you might want to back off the coach a little and just see what happens.